Quantic Dream's co-founder on PS3 exclusives and virtual actors

Quantic Dream is one of the few development studios confident enough to deliver an exclusive title for a platform holder. While the majority of developers and publishers have chosen to cover as many formats as possible to cushion the financial cost of game development, Quantic is teaming with Sony on original PlayStation 3 project Heavy Rain.

A tech demo for the title – The Casting – was first shown at E3 in 2006 but since then both companies have remained quiet on the project. Here, co-founder of Quantic Dream Guillaume de Fondaumière tells GamesIndustry.biz in an interview at Game Connection about the studio's ambitious plans to deliver on the idea of virtual actors, it's dealings with the Hollywood A-list and why it believes the PlayStation 3 is the best option for the company's ambitious next-gen game...

So you were happy to sign the deal as an exclusive – you're not concerned about limiting your market to one home console?

We believe that the PlayStation 3 is going to be extremely successful, as successful as the PlayStation 2. The other point is that when you look at the architecture of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 you see huge differences and it's extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms.

Even from an economical standpoint, if you really want to give the best shot on both platforms you have to invest far more money than just spending the money on the one platform. Or you have simple ports, which are of less quality. At Quantic we have high standards and we really want to give our fans the best possible experience with our creations and we didn't want to downgrade any version by porting a game. It was far more important to chose the right machine where we could express ourselves and give it the best shot.

HEAVY RAIN would sell a million alone in EU not to even mention NA/JAPAN

Now you are disappointed since the devs have revealed the massive differences between the 2 consoles:-

"We believe that the PlayStation 3 is going to be extremely successful, as successful as the PlayStation 2. The other point is that when you look at the architecture of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 you see huge differences and it's extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms. "

"We believe that the PlayStation 3 is going to be extremely successful, as successful as the PlayStation 2. The other point is that when you look at the architecture of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 you see huge differences and it's extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms. "

"Even from an economical standpoint, if you really want to give the best shot on both platforms you have to invest far more money than just spending the money on the one platform. Or you have simple ports, which are of less quality. At Quantic we have high standards and we really want to give our fans the best possible experience with our creations and we didn't want to downgrade any version by porting a game. It was far more important to chose the right machine where we could express ourselves and give it the best shot. "

I want to see more of Heavy Rain..I been really excited about this game ever since they showed the trailer..I hope this game will sell millions on the PS3..Sony got all the games in 0'8..PS3 fans need to support it and buy it..Uncharted didnt do so good here in NA and its really a great game..so go purchase it!!

But still realize... Uncharted sold about 400,000 in one month... this game is going to be a million seller EASILY by Feb 2008. Assassins Creed and Call of Duty 4 are already Million sellers on the PS3. Ratchet and Clank, Heavenly Sword and Warhawk are also getting very close to the Million mark and will be by Earily 2008...hahahah PS3 is following through and still buying games... we just need mGS4 to get everyone out and have that one instant million seller. Same goes with LBP, Killzone 2, GT5,FF13, I think Haze will do good but it might take a month or two. The PS3 user base is growing huge. It will have VER CLOSE to 9 million by the end of December... Worldwide if it just had 7.5 million before Decmber even started. GO PSTRIPLE! PS3 is sersiouly doing ALOT LOT better!

"We believe that the PlayStation 3 is going to be extremely successful, as successful as the PlayStation 2. The other point is that when you look at the architecture of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 you see huge differences and it's extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms. "

That doesn't necessarily mean he is implying the PS3 is superior visually, but that when porting games to different platforms, the games can look less in visual quality because the two different architectures require completely different approaches, and in that process, developers struggle to polish games as they intended for them to look.

But being able to focus on one platform, they can share those resources in research and development and have more time consequently to polish and fine-tune games. And they chose the PS3 because they believed it would be as successful as the PS2, so that give the platform of choice and they went on to explain why it's not multiplatform from an economic point of view stating that it would mean "investing more money", and their opinion that working on one platform ensures better quality.

we'll never except "virtual actors" though, people like to follow their real life, watch them rise to the dizzy highs of stardom... then cheer when it all comes down around them in a sea of crack and unwanted babies!

you'll never see a virtual actor go mental an shave her head, wheres the fun in that?

Every time I hear Quantic Dream's name, I feel sad. It's really really saddening how their classic titles Omikron and Farenheit didn't sell. Both were mindblowing games. Farenheit/ Indigo Prophecy was a true example of interactive story telling with superb story and characters. And Omikron... a mindblowing mix of 3rd Person Sandbox, FPS, Fighting, Adventure/Puzzle, RPG and driving.

were they on ps2? omikron and indigo prophecy. i really don't know much about them. they must've been released during the holiday season. and you know how busy that season gets in terms of game releases.

but as i remember omikron was on pc and it didn't get really good reviews.

Indigo Prophecy is GREAT... it was a sleeper game last generation IMO... I bought the game not knowing what to expect and came away HIGHLY impressed.. the story kept me from start to finish... playing both main storylines (main guy vs. main detectives searching for him) together was GENIUS

Indigo Prophecy / Farenheit was on all platforms (PS2, Xbox and PC) but Omikron was PC only. The reason that some gave it low scores is because of it's really strange approach to gameplay. There were FPS sequences like any FPS. Then there were fighting parts like Virtua Fighter or Mortal Kombat. Then there were the open-world / sandbox elements with driving. There were also lot's of puzzles and adventure parts with multiple solutions and let's not forget about decision makings and some non-linear parts. Add the RPG aspect of game and how main character could have been chosen from a huge array of characters and could change during the story (!) and you have a truly genre bending and ambitous title in your hands.

I suggest giving them a chance if you have the time. Both are really special games and definitly worth it. If you go after Indigo Prophecy, make sure to either get the European version or PC's AO rated Director's cut. The other versions are censored :(

Lightning, resentment is never a sign of moving on. It implies unwanted disconnection. If you've moved on and are happy with your 360, you shouldn't feel the need to reaffirm your position continuously. While I don't own a 360, if you're underwhelemed by the PS3 and prefer the 360's experience, I fully condone that. But your behavior reminds me of someone who claims to be over his ex girlfriend, but brings her up all the time and speaks bad of her new lovers. You seem smart though, which makes me a sad panda.

I was a true PS3 fanboy. Don't you understand? And I had to move on to 360 against my will because the PS3 is a f*cken embarresment.

I'm trying to move on and just forget and enjoy the 360. And hopefully one day I'll like the XBOX brand as much as I liked the Playstation brand. But I don't have good sh*t to say about PS3. They're totally f*cken this gen.

Coming to n4g.com use to mean something to me, now I just come becasue I can't turn away. It's kinda like not being able to turn away from a car accident. I want to see just how bad it is for PS3. It's quality entertainment.

"We believe that the PlayStation 3 is going to be extremely successful, as successful as the PlayStation 2. The other point is that when you look at the architecture of the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 you see huge differences and it's extremely difficult to create games of the same visual quality on both platforms. "